Conveying apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a conveying system or apparatus for transporting articles, such as hangers, along predetermined paths to a plurality of delivery stations. In one form the apparatus includes a drive assembly for moving the articles to the selected delivery stations, a plurality of elongated guides or strips which form guide paths extending to the delivery stations, and a control assembly connected to the drive assembly. The control assembly includes a follower which extends into a guide path to detect when the article is at the selected delivery station and to release the article at the selected delivery station. In other forms the guides or strips can be omitted and other mechanism is provided to cooperate with the control assembly.

United States ate-1 2,998,136 8/1961 Gerisch....................... 3,282,400 11/1966 Jonson Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk [72] lnvcntor Rudolph F. Gerisch 1317 Portsmouth Ave., Westchester, [11. 60153 196 Assistant Examiner Roger S. Gaither e 'bb N I & B' 11 Patented Jan. 1971 Attorney Hi en, oyes ickne ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein is a conveying system or apparatus for transporting articles, such as hangers, along predetermined paths to a plurality of delivery stations. In one form the apparatus includes a drive assembly for moving the articles to the selected delivery stations, a plurality of elongated guides or strips which form guide paths extending to the delivery stations, and a control assembly connected to the drive assembly. The control assembly includes a follower which extends into a guide path to detect when the article is at the selected delivery station and to release the article at the selected delivery station. In other forms the guides or strips can be omitted and other mechanism is provided to cooperate with the control assembly.

26 .00 00 wMmu B $87 00 l 3 .Q|,. l 500 69 Bl M S m u T. m m N u H E .H W w m M M um ms m m CS m h n H E m AF m m CT g n m n N m HT... PM W M is m a u DB Am m mm E G1 W m H4 N3 u N% s m mm 1 fm W a l 1 N0. d 04 S w C4 U [F /a M H W N U U H mm H 3 PATENTEDJAM261971 7 a 557 935 SHEET 3 OF 7 CONVEYING APPARATUS It is often necessary to convey sequentially a large number of articles from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations. One environment where such a need arises is in a dry cleaning plant where numerous garments supported on hangers must be sorted and conveyed to predetermined locations. Many systems, including the one disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,136, have been devised to satisfy this need for a conveyor system which is capable of transporting an article from a loading station to a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations. However, the known conveyor systems are limited as to the number of delivery stations which may conveniently be associated with a single loading station. In addition, when a component of a known conveyor system fails, it is usually necessary to shut down or stop the operation of the entire conveyor system until the defective component is replaced. While the cost of the defective component may be relatively small, the cost of stopping the operation of the conveyor system until the component is replaced is usually very substantial.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a conveyor system which requires a minimum of maintenance and is capable of transporting articles from a loading station to a selected one of a large number of delivery stations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive control assembly for a conveyor system which is capable of transporting an article from a loading station to a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a system of the aforementioned type, a novel and improved mechanism for locating the follower of a control assembly on a selected one of a plurality of guide paths associated with a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a conveyor system comprising one specific embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken along the line 22 of FIG. I, illustrating the structure of a coupling assembly for transporting an article and releasing the article at a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the conveyor system of FIG. 1, illustrating the releasing of an article at a selected delivery station by the coupling assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the coupling assembly of FIG. 2 after a transported article has been released at the selected delivery station;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a control or sensor assembly used with the coupling assembly of FIGS. 2 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an article-engaging carrier hook used with the coupling assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of the coupling assembly in a locked position for supporting an article with the carrier hook of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the coupling assembly in the release position of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the coupling assembly during the operation of the conveyor system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the control assembly;

FIG. 11 is an interior elevational view, taken along the line Il-Il of FIG. 10, further illustrating the structure of the control assembly;

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of my invention utilizing a first adjustable cam assembly for positioning the follower pin of a control assembly for movement along a selected guide path and a second adjustable cam assembly for actuating the follower pin when the article is adjacent to a selected delivery station;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view, taken along the line I3-I3 of FIG. 12, further illustrating the structure of the first adjustable cam assembly;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of my invention having a plurality of flexible strips at a loading station to facilitate positioning follower pins for movement along guide paths associated with selected delivery stations;

FIG. 15 is an elevational view, taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. I4;

FIG. I6 is a fragmentary perspective view. partially in section, of a mechanism mounted at a loading station for separating flexible guide strips;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary plan view oi a plurality of flexible metallic strips which define guide paths from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view, taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. I7, illustrating the mounting of the guide strips;

FIG. I9 is a schematic elevational view of a separator mechanism and guide strips extending from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of a latch assembly used with the separator mechanism of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the latch assembly of FIG. 20, illustrating the movement of the latch assembly from a retracted position to an extended position;

FIG. 22 is a perspective'view of a third embodiment of the coupling assembly;

FIG. 23 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the coupling assembly of FIG. 22, illustrating the coupling assembly in association with primary and secondary guide strips;

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of the operation of the secondary guide strips of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the coupling assembly utilizing sensor assemblies mounted adjacent to primary and secondary guide strips;

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of the operation of the coupling assembly of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of the actuation of a pair of sensor assemblies by the coupling assembly of FIG. 25 to release a transported article from a support assembly at a selected delivery station;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a control mechanism for effecting insertion of a follower pin into a selected guide path between guide strips;

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 28 with a coupling assembly in coaeting position and with the electrical circuitry being illustrated schematically;

FIG. 30 is a schematic view showing the operation of the control mechanism of FIGS. 28 and 29; and

FIG. 3] is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the control mechanism of FIGS. 28 and 29.

Briefly described, this invention relates to a conveyor having a couplingassembly including a load-engaging carrier member, such as a hook, for engaging an article to be trans ported. The carrier member is movable from a first or support position for engaging and supporting the article as it is being transported to a second or release position to disengage or release the article at a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations. This movement of the carrier member is regulated by a control assembly having a follower pin which detects when the coupling assembly is at the selected delivery station. The follower pin is positioned at a loading station to follow a control or guide path or channel associated with the selected delivery station. In some cases the guide paths are defined by elongated guide members or strips located beside the coupling assembly and extending generally parallel to a path of movement of the coupling assembly. If desired, a separator mechanism can be utilized at the loading station for separating the guide strips to facilitate insertion of the follower pin between the guide strips.

A conveyor system or apparatus 30 embodying my invention is illustrated in FIG. I. The conveyor system 30 includes a drive assembly 32, such as a continuous chain, and a plurality of coupling assemblies, indicated at 34, mounted thereon. The coupling assemblies 34 are moved along a continuous or circuitous path by the drive assembly 32 to transport articles from a loading station, indicated at 36 in FIG. 1, to a selected one ofa plurality of delivery stations, only one of the delivery stations being shown in FIG. 1 as indicated at 38.

An article-engaging carrier member or hook 44 is pivotally mounted on the coupling assembly 34 for movement from a support or transport position, shown in FIG. 2, to a release or storage position, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4-. The hook -14, in the support position, engages a hanger 48, or other article, to support the hanger while the hanger is being transported from the loading station 36 to a selected delivery station. When the coupling assembly 34 reaches the selected delivery station, a control or sensor assembly 52 detects that the article is adjacent to the selected delivery station and releases the hook 4 1 for pivoting movement from the support position of FIG. 2 to the release position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to drop or release the article at the selected delivery station.

This operation of the control assembly 52 results from the movement of a follower pin or arm 56 downwardly or outwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 4 by a cam 60 (see FIG. 3) which is mounted at the delivery station on a channel 61 supported by a frame 62. The follower pin 56 is positioned at the loading station 36 to follow a control or guide path or channel extending from the loading station to the selected delivery station. The guide paths in this case are defined by elongated guide strips or members, indicated generally at 66, which can be formed of metal, nylon or other materials. The guide strips 66 are located within the channel 61 and extend generally parallel to the path of movement of the coupling assemblies 34. Each guide strip terminates immediately before a delivery station 38 with which the guide strip is associated, the lower guide strips being associated with upstream delivery stations while the upper guide strips are associated with downstream delivery stations. Thus, the outer or lower guide strips, designated at 72 in FIG. 1, terminates immediately before the delivery station 38 while the next adjacent or intermediate guide strip 74 terminates immediately before the next adjacent downstream delivery station (not shown). The innermost or upper guide strip 76 terminates immediately before the furthest downstream delivery station (not shown). Of course, the number of guide strips 66 is determined by the number of delivery stations, there being one guide strip associated with each delivery station.

In FIG. 1 the follower pin 56 of the control assembly 52 is positioned between the guide strips 72 and 74, which define a guide path leading to the delivery station 38. The guide strips 72 and 74 advantageously separated by means of a suitable separator mechanism hereinafter described in connection with FIGS. 16-21. When the hanger 48 has been transported to the delivery station 38, the guide strip 72 terminates and the follower pin 56 descends through an opening 78 in the bottom of the channel 61 to engage the cam 60 at the delivery station (see FIG. 3). Upon continued movement of the coupling assembly 34 by the drive assembly 32, the cam 60 forces the follower pin 56 further outwardly or downwardly to operate the control assembly 52. This operation of the control assembly 52 frees the carrier hook M for pivoting movement to drop or release the hanger 48 at the delivery station.

After the hanger 48 has been released at the selected delivery station, the continuous drive assembly 32 moves the coupling assembly 34 to a reset station, shown at 82 in FIG. 1. At the reset station, the follower pin 56 is engaged by a return cam 84 and is moved inwardly of a guide track 86. This move ment of the follower pin 56 resets the coupling assembly 34 by pivoting the carrier hook 44 back to the support position. Continued movement of the coupling assembly 34 by the drive assembly 32 moves the coupling assembly back toward the loading station 36. During this movement, the follower pin 56 moves along the guide track 36 to a positioning ramp 88. Upon further movement of the coupling assembly 341, the follower pin 56 slides down the positioning ramp 88 and enters between adjacent guide strips for movement along a guide path to a selected delivery station. Also during this further movement of the coupling assembly 34, the carrier hook 44 is brought into engagement with the next hanger 48 which is supported on a loading ramp or pickup frame 90.

The movements of the carrier hook 44 are regulated by the control assembly 52 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). The control as sembly 52 includes a housing formed by a base section 92, which is mounted on one leg of a U-shaped frame or fork 93. and a cover section 94 which is connected to the base 92 and the fork 93 by screws 96. A selectively operable latch as sembly 98 (see FIG. 5) is mounted between the base section 92 and the cover section 94 ofthe housing. The latch assembly 98 is operable from a locked or latched position holding the carrier hook 44 against movement to a release position wherein the carrier hook is free to pivot relative to the fork 93. The latch assembly 98 includes a latch slide 100 which is slidably received in a channel 102 in the base section 92. The carrier hook 44 is held against movement by engagement of a cam slot 104 in the latch slide 100 with a follower arm 108 which is fixedly connected to the carrier hook 44 (see FIG. 6). A hanger supported by the carrier hook 44 tends to press the follower arm 108 against the sides of the cam slot 104 to hold the latch slide 100 against accidental movement to the release position. When the latch slide 100 is in the release position (see FIGS. 4 and 8), the latch slide engages a stop pin 109 (FIG. 5) at the base of the channel 102 and the follower arm 108 is disengaged from the cam slot 104 to enable the carrier hook 44 to pivot to the release position to drop a hanger 48 at a selected delivery station.

The latch slide 100 is moved between the locking and release positions by movement ofa generally H-shaped actuator slide 112 in a channel 113 in the cover section 94. The actuator slide 112 has a pair of opposite head sections 114 and 116 which are moved into and out of engagement with positioning pins or pegs 118 on the latch slide 100. The positioning pegs 118 extend through a slot 120 in a'separator plate 127 which is mounted between the latch slide 100 and the actuator slide 112. The separator plate 127 prevents the latch slide 100 from being moved by frictional engagement with the actuator slide 112 before the positioning pins 118 are engaged by one of the head sections 114 or 116 of the actuator slide. The actuator slide 112 is moved by the follower pin 56 which is attached to an intermediate or connector section 126 of the actuator slide.

The follower pin 56 extends outwardly through an elongated slot 130 in the cover section 94 for movement along the guide paths formed by the guide strips 66. When the follower pin 56 is at the inner end of the slot 130 (that is the upper end as viewed in FIG. 4) the latch slide 100 is held in the locking position by engagement of the head 116 of the actuator slide 112 with the pegs 118. The actuator slide 112 can then move outwardly through a distance or range, which is a function of the length of the connector section 126, without moving the latch slide 100 to the release position. When the follower pin 56 engages a cam 60 at a selected delivery station, the head section 114 of the actuator slide engages the pegs 118 to move the latch slide 161) outwardly or away from the conveyor 32, to the release position (see F165. 3 and 4). Similarly, when the follower pin 56 engages the return cam 84 (see FIG. 1). the head section 116 of the actuator slide 112 engages the pegs 118 to move the latch slide 100 inwardly or toward the conveyor 32 to the locking position. Thus, the movements of the latch slide and the carrier hook 44 are controlled by the movement of the follower pin 56 along guide paths formed by the guide strips 66,

The control assembly 52 is mounted on one of the legs of the fork 93, and the carrier hook 44 is mounted for pivoting movement between the legs of the fork, The carrier hook 44 is fixedly attached to a block or body 134 (see FIG. 6) having an axle or mounting shaft 136 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the legs of the fork 93. The follower arm 108 is rigidly affixed to one end of the axle 136 which extends through a slot 138 in the base section 92 to position the follower arm 103 for engagement with the latch slide 100. When the follower arm 108 is engaged by the cam slot I04 in the latch slide I00, the carrier hook 44 is pivoted to the support position of FIG. 7 by engagement of the latch slide I with a roller I40 at the end of the follower arm 108.

When the actuator slide 112 moves the latch slide 100 to the release position, in the manner previously explained, a spring I42 connected to the block 134 in eccentric relation to the axle I36, pulls the carrier hook 44 to the release position (FIGS. 4 and 8) to drop or deposit the hanger 48 at the selected delivery station. The action of the spring 142 also tends to hold the latch slide 100 in its locked position until it is positively moved to release position by the actuator slide IE2. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the opposite end of the spring I42 is connected to a cross pin 144 extending between the legs of the fork 93. The carrier hook MI is pivoted back to the support position in engagement with a stop I43 (FIGS. I and 3) when the follower pin 56 engages the return cam 84 (FIG. I) to move the head section 116 of the actuator slide 112 into engagement with the positioning pins I18 on the latch slide 100. The cam 84 then forces the actuator slide 112 and the latch slide 100 inwardly from the release position (FIG. 8) to the latch position (FIG. 7). During this movement the follower arm I08 and carrier hook 44 are pivoted from the release position (FIG. 8) to the support position (FIG. 7) by engagement of the cam slot 104 in the latch slide 100 with the roller 140 on the follower arm I08, thereby tensioning the spring 142.

The complete sequence of operation of the coupling assembly 34 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 9, wherein the coupling assembly moves from a reset position or station indicated at A to a release position or station shown at B. When the coupling assembly 34 is in the reset position, shown at A, the pin 56 on the actuator slide H2 is engaged by the return cam 84 to move the actuator slide inwardly toward the drive assembly 32. The inward movement of the actuator slide I12 moves the latch slide 100 inwardly from the release position shown in FIG. 8 to the locking position shown in FIG. 7. As the latch slide 100 is moved inwardly, the cam slot I04 in the latch slide engages the roller 140 on the follower arm I08 and pivots the carrier hook 44 from the release position, shown at A, to the support position, shown at B. The carrier hook 44 is then latched or locked in the support position by the latch slide 100. After the coupling assembly 34 has moved past the return cam 84, the guide track 86 holds the follower pin 56 inwardly to prevent the actuator slide 1112 from accidentally moving the latch slide 100 outwardly and thereby releasing the carrier hook 44.

Continued movement of the coupling assembly 34 by the drive assembly 32 moves the coupling assembly from the position shown at B to the position shown at C immediately before the loading station 36. The guide strips 66 associated with delivery stations downstream from a selected delivery station are then raised upwardly or inwardly, as indicated by an arrow 148, to enable the follower pin 56 to be positioned for movement along a selected guide path between selected strips 66. The guide strips 66 can readily be separated by using a mechanism similar to the ones shown in FIGS. 16 and 19, as hereinafter described. As the coupling assembly moves forward or downstream of position C, the follower pin 56 is supported by the positioning ramp 88 until it enters between selected guide strips 66 forming a guide path to the selected delivery station, as shown at position D. The follower pin 56 is then supported by engagement with the lower or outer guide strip forming the guide path to the selected delivery station. Contemporaneously with this movement of the follower pin 56 into the selected guide path, the carrier hook 44 engages a hanger 48 on the loading ramp 90 (see FIG. ll).

Further movement of the coupling assembly 3 by the drive assembly 32 moves the follower pin 56 to the end of the guide path at the opening '78 adjacent to the selected delivery station 38. The follower pin 56 is then disengaged from the guide strips 66 by downward or outward movement through the opening 78 under the influence of gravity. The follower pin 56 then moves into engagement with the cam 60. The cam 60 forces the follower pin 56 and actuator slide 112 outwardly, so that the head section H4 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) of the actuator I12 engages the positioning pegs I18 on the latch slide I00 to move the latch slide outwardly to the release position, shown in FIG. 8 and at position E in FIG. 9. When the latch slide I00 is in the release position, the carrier hook 44 is free to pivot under the action of the spring 142 to the release position to drop an article at the selected delivery station. As is perhaps best seen in FIG. 7, the carrier hook 44 has a sloping load-engaging forward end section 152 which holds the hanger 48 in engagement with an outwardly and rearwardly sloping leading edge portion 156 of the coupling assembly 34 so that the load exerted by the hanger 48 on the carrier hook 44 tends to pivot the carrier hook from the support position, shown at D in FIG. 9, to the release position, shown at E in FIG. 9. Thus, the carrier hook is pivoted from the support position by the combined action of the spring 142 and the load exerted on the carrier hook by the hanger 48.

After the hanger 48 has been dropped or deposited at the selected delivery station, the coupling assembly 34 is returned to reset or initial position, indicated at A in FIG. 9. During this return movement the follower pin 56 is disposed outwardly of the channel 61. When the coupling assembly 34 reaches the reset position shown at A in FIG. 9, the follower pin 56 will again engage the return cam 84 and be moved inwardly of the guide track 86. This movement of the follower pin 56 moves the latch slide from the release position, shown in FIG. 8, to the latching or support position, shown in FIG. 7, to enable the foregoing cycle of operation to be repeated. If desired, the return cam 84 can be adjustable and can be pivoted inwardly relatively to the guide track 86, either manually or by suitable actuating means (not shown), so that the follower pin 56 moves past the return cam 84 without engaging the return cam. The carrier hook 44 will then remain in the release position shown at A and the follower pin 56 will move along a path outside of the guide strips 66 and channel 61 during the forward movement of the coupling a assembly 34, as indicated in dashed lines at position C in FIG. 9.

While many different types of arrangements can be used for positioning a hanger 48 on the carrier hook MI at the loading station 36, the downwardly sloping loading ramp or pickup frame (see FIG. I) has been found to be particularly advantageous. The loading ramp 90 extends generally parallel to the path of movement of the coupling assembly 34 and in cludes a pair of spaced-apart support plates I64 and 166 having stop or retaining notches 168 at their forward end por tions. The hanger 48 slides downwardly along the loading ramp 90 to the stop notches I68. As the coupling assembly 34 is moved from the position shown at B in FIG. 9 to the position shown at C in FIG. 9, the fork 93 straddles or moves into partial alignment with the loading ramp 90 and the carrier book 44 moves into the space between the support plates 164 and 166. As the coupling assembly 34 is moved past the stop notches 168, the carrier hook 44 engages the hook end of the hanger 48 to lift the hanger off the loading ramp 90 and support the hanger as it is transported to a selected delivery station. If for some reason the carrier hook 44 should fail to engage the hanger 88, the hanger will be shoved out of engage ment with the stop notches 168 by the leading edge portion 156 of the coupling assembly 34 onto a return rod I70. The return rod I70 supports the hanger as it slides downwardly to a return station for subsequent manual replacement back onto the loading ramp 90.

When the coupling assembly 34 reaches the selected delivery station and the follower pin 56 is moved down or outwardly by a cam 60, the hanger 48 is released. The hanger then drops onto a support structure 174 (FIG. I) where the hook end of the hanger 48 is supported by a pair of spacedapart generally parallel support plates I76 and 178 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). The support structure I74 extends inwardly into partial alignment with the coupling assembly 34 and is straddled by the fork 03, in much the same way as the loading ramp 90 was previously straddled by the fork. The leading edge portion 156 ofthe coupling assembly 34 will then push the hanger 48 onto a downwardly sloping support rod 180 leading to a suitable storage location or to another conveyor assembly (not shown).

A second embodiment of the delivery station support structure is shown at 184 in FIG. 8 and includes a pair of spacedapart support plates which extend inwardly into partial align ment with the coupling assembly 3A) and are straddled by the legs of the fork 93. The support assembly 184 also includes a forward cam surface 186 which cams or lifts a hanger 48 upwardly off the carrier hook 44 as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8. The hanger 48 is then supported by the support structure 184, separately from the carrier hook 44, to insure that a rel-a tively heavy load does not impose excessive force on the slide mechanism such as to require possibly damaging force to effect release of the carrier hook. After the hanger 48 is positioned on the support structure 184, the hanger 43 will be pushed or shoved along the support structure by the leading edge portion 156 of the coupling assembly 34. As the forward movement of the coupling assembly 34 is continued, the hanger 48 may be pushed onto a downwardly extending support rod 190 or may be reseated on the hook 44 for continued travel to another portion of the system.

A second embodiment of the control assembly is indicated at 200 in FIGS. 10 and 11. The control assembly 200 includes a housing 201 having a cover section 202 and a base section 204. The base section 204 is to be attached to a fork in much the same manner as the control assembly 52 is attached to the fork 93. An actuator slide 205 is slidably mounted within the housing 201 on one side of a separator plate 206. A latch slide 207 is slidably mounted on an opposite side of the separator plate 206. The latch slide 207 includes outwardly extending positioning pegs or pins 208 which are selectively engaged by one of two head sections 210 and 212 of the actuator slide 205 to move the latch slide between a release position and a locking or latch position. The latch slide 207 cooperates with the actuator slide 205 and carrier hook, similar to the earner hook 44, in much the same manner as the latch slide 100 cooperates with the actuator slide 112 and carrier hook M in the previously described embodiment.

The actuator slide 205 is retained in a predetermined position relative to the housing 201 by a pair of spring loaded ball detents 214 and 216 which are mounted in the head section 212 and engage recesses 218 on an inner surface of the cover section 202. The recesses 218 at various levels are designated by indicia 1. 2 etc. in FIG. 11. The detents 214 and 216 hold the actuator slide 205 in a preset position so that a follower pin 219 is located at a predetermined level for movement along a path associated with a selected delivery station. A series of fixed cams (not shown) which extend progressively further inwardly may be mounted at the delivery stations so that the follower pin 219 is moved into selective engagement with a cam corresponding to the level at which the follower pin 219 is held by the detents 214 and 216. Thus, when the detents are positioned at the first level, as indicated at l in FIG. 11, the follower pin 219 will engage the cam at a first delivery station. 1f the detents 214 and 216 were preset in engagement with the next upward or inward recess 218, as indicated at 2 in FIG. 11, the follower pin 219 would engage the cam at the next or second downstream delivery station. Therefore, by using detents to hold the actuator slide 205 in a predetermined position relative to the housing 201, the follower pin 219 is moved into engagement with a cam at a selected delivery station to release a hanger or other article at the delivery station without the use of guide strips, such as the guide strips 66 of FIG. 1. It will be understood, of course, that other aspects of the operation of the control assembly 200 are substantially the same as for the control assembly 52 shown in FIG. 1 through 9.

A selectively settable or adjustable cam assembly 224 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 which may be mounted at a loading station on a bracket 225 to position the follower pin 219 of the control assembly 200 at a predetermined level for movement along an associated path to a selected delivery station. A second selectively settable or adjustable cam assembly 228 is also shown in FIG. 12 and may be mounted at a delivery station to move the follower pin 219 to the release position. An indicator dial 229 on the cam assembly 224 has indicia 1, 2, etc. cooperable with a fixed pointer 223. The dial 229 is manually moved or dialed to position an outwardly extending lever or cam member 230 at one of a plurality of predeter mined angular positions to move the follower pin 219 to a predetermined level relative to the cover section 202. Thus, when the cam assembly 224 is set or dialed for the second position (indicated at 2 on the dial 229 in FIG, 12), the cam member 230 is pivoted to the full line position (indicated at 2) in FIG. 12 and is engaged by the follower pin 219 thereby moving the actuator slide 205 inwardly so that the dctents 214 and 216 engage the recesses 218 at the second level (indicated at 2 in FIG. 11).

The dial 229 may be spring loaded by torsion spring means (not shown) for normally urging the dial 229 clockwise to zero" position. A latch pawl 234 is provided for engaging a toothed wheel 236 affixed to the dial 229 to hold the cam assembly 224 in its preset position. The pawl is centrally pivoted at 231 and is urged toward the toothed wheel 236 by a spring 232. The latch pawl 234 can be moved out of engagement with the toothed wheel 236 by pressing downwardly on an outer end 238 of the latch pawl to free the cam assembly 224 for resetting. Thus, when the cam assembly 224 is set to the second position, as shown in FIG. 12, the follower pin 219 is moved to the second level by the cam member 230. The follower pin 219 is then positioned for movement along a path to a delivery station associated with the second level. At this delivery station there is an adjustable cam assembly 228 which extends sufiiciently inwardly to engage the follower pin 219 at the second level and release a transported article.

The cam assembly 228 is located at a delivery station and is adjustable to engage the follower pin 219 at a level which is associated with that delivery station. The cam assembly 228 is generally similar in structure to the cam assembly 224 and includes an indicator dial 242 which can be set for any position, the second position being illustrated in FIG. 12, to locate a cam member or lever 244 for engagement with a follower pin set at a corresponding level or at a lower level. Thus, the cam lever 244 is connected to the indicator dial 242 and will be engaged by the follower pin 219 when the follower pin is set at either the second level or the first level by the cam assembly 224. If the indicator wheel 242 is moved to the fourth position, the cam lever 2441 will be engaged by a follower pin 219 at any of the first four levels. However, if the follower pin 219 of the control assembly 200 is set for a fifth level, when the cam level 244 is set to the fourth position, the follower pin 219 will pass inwardly or above the cam lever 244 and will not be operated to release an article at the delivery station associated with the cam assembly 228. The cam assembly 228 also includes a spring-pressed latch pawl 248 and a toothed wheel 250 for holding the cam assembly at a predetermined setting.

Although the foregoing description contemplates manual setting of the cam assemblies 224 and 228 and manual actuation of the pawls 234 and 248 to release the cam assemblies, it will be understood that these functions can also be accomplished automatically by means of switches, solenoids, or other electrical components. Furthermore, other cam type devices or the like can be used to press the follower pin 219 into and out of a predetermined position on the control assembly 200. For example, a strip system of limited length could be provided at either or both the loading and discharge stations for the purpose of setting and/or releasing the follower pin.

A second embodiment of the guide strips is shown schematically at 266 in FIGS. 14* and 15. in the embodiment, a plurality of fixedly mounted guide strips 268 are provided for at least partially defining control or guide paths or channels leading to delivery stations indicated at 270. A plurality of movable flexible guide strips 274 of different lengths are provided at a loading station 276 to facilitate positioning a follower pin 280, similar to the follower pin 56 of FIGS. I through 9, for move ment along a selected guide path or channel between the fixed guide strips 268 The flexible strips 274 extend freely at their inner ends into the paths between the strips 268 and are connected at their outer ends to lift rods or bars 284 which facilitate raising or spreading the flexible strips 274 to provide a relatively large opening for receiving the follower pin 280. It should be noted that the shorter flexible strips 274 are associated with the furthest upstream stations 270 while the longer flexible strips 274 are associated with delivery stations which are furthest downstream. Thus, when a lift rod 284 is moved upwardly to separate the flexible strips 274. the flexible strips associated with further downstream delivery stations are lifted.

With the exception of the lowest or outermost flexible strip (designated at 2740), the flexible strips 274 are connected in pairs to the lift rods 284. The upper or outer flexible strip of each pair (indicated at 274a in FIG. 14) is connected to one lift rod 284 and the lower or inner flexible strip of each pair (indicated at 274b in FIG. 14) is connected to a next adjacent upper lift rod 284 to form an opening 288 at the entrance ofa guide path leading to an associated delivery station. The size of the opening 288 can be varied to facilitate positioning the follower pin on a guide path extending to a particular delivery station 270. A positioning ramp 289 supports the lift rods 284 and guides the follower pin into the opening 288.

The downstream ends of the flexible strips 274 are free to move relative to the fixed strips 268 to eliminate any possible restraint on the upward or inward movement of the lift rods 284. Thus, when the lift rods 284 are moved inwardly or upwardly to raise the flexible guide strips 274 associated with delivery stations downstream from a selected delivery station, the flexible strips are displaced longitudinally for a short distance relative to the fixed guide strips 268. The follower pin 280 is then moved into the area or opening 288 between the separated flexible strips and forwardly along a guide path between the corresponding fixed strips 268. When the follower pin 280 is adjacent to the selected delivery station 270, the follower pin 280 drops or moves outwardly under the influence of gravity to engage a cam 290. Upon continued movement the follower pin 280 is cammcd outwardly and causes release of the hanger or other other article carried by a coupling assembly associated with the follower pin.

Although the strips 268 in FIGS. l4 and 15 are shown as having a fixed spaced relation, they may also be stacked in contiguous relation in the manner shown in my prior US. Pat. No. 2,998,136.

In FIG. 16 a separator mechanism or assembly 300 is shown which may be provided at a loading station to separate or lift flexible guide strips 302 (which are similar to the flexible guide strips 274 of FIGS. 14 and 15) to facilitate insertion of a follower pin 304 (similar to the follower pin 56 of FIGS. 1 through 9) between the guide strips. Of course, the separator mechanism 300 can be used with many different embodiments of the guide strips, including the embodiment of FIG. II. The separator mechanism 300 includes a plurality of interlocking blocks or members 306 which are connected by pins 308 to the guide strips 302. The blocks 306 are mounted in an overlapping or interlocking relationship with each other so that raising one block and the associated guide strip 302 also raises the blocks and guide strips associated with further downstream delivery stations. To this end, the blocks 306 include transversely extending shoulders 312 which abut each other to enable a block 306 to lift upwardly or inwardly the blocks associated with further downstream stations. This upward movement of the blocks 306 is guided by pins 314 which extend into suitable slots in a support frame shown fragmentarily at 316.

The blocks 306 are lifted upwardly by an actuator pin or lever 320 which is movable both vertically and transversely relative to the blocks (as indicated by the arrows 321) and engages a generally V-shape d noTch 322 in the bottom of a selected block 306 to raise the blocks upwardly. The blocks 306 are held in an upward position by a latch or retaining lever 326 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 3'28. The retaining lever 326 engages pins 332 extending outwardly from an upper end portion of the blocks 306 to hold the blocks in an upper or actuated position. The blocks are released for movement back to their nonnal position, when the follower pin 304 has been positioned for movement along a selected guide path, by merely pivoting the lever 326 outwardly in the direction of the arrow 336.

A third embodiment ofthe guide strips is shown in FIGS. 17 and I8. In this embodiment, guide strips 340 are formed of flexible resilient strips of metal which are held in superposed engagement by a suitable connector, such as a rivet 342, which interconnects transversely outwardly extending mounting sections 344 of the strips. The mounting sections 344 are also engaged by a support frame 348 which supports the guide strips 340. A follower pin 350, similar to the follower pin 56 of FIGS. I to 9, is inserted between the guide strips 340 by resiliently forcing the guide strips apart. The follower pin 350 is then moved along a control or guide path or channel, partially defined by guide strips 340, to a selected delivery station. End portions of the guide strips 340 press resiliently downwardly against a separator assembly 354, which separates the outer end portions of the guide strips in a manner to be explained in greater detail subsequently in connection with FIGS. 19, 20 and 21.

The separator mechanism 354 is shown in FIG. 19 in association with still another embodiment of the guide strips. The separator mechanism 354 includes a plurality of parallel partitions or support walls or sections 360 forming stalls 362 in which latch assemblies 364 are mounted. The latch assemblies 364 are operated from a retracted position, shown at the right in FIG. 19, to an extended position, shown at the left in FIG. 19, by an actuator pin 368. The actuator pin 368 is moved horizontally along a main control track or channel 370 which extends adjacent to the outer ends of the stalls 362. In order to move a latch assembly to the extended position, the actuator pin 368 is moved upwardly or vertically into a stall 362 associated with the selected latch assembly, as indicated in dashed lines at 372 in FIG. I9. This upward movement of the actuator pin 368 forces the latch assembly to the extended position, shown at the left in FIG. 19.

The operation of a latch assembly 364 to the extended position separates resiliently abutting end portions 376 of guide strips 378 to enable a follower pin 380 to be positioned between selected guide strips for movement along a selected control or guide path or channel. The follower pin 380 is supported as it moves along a guide path by the guide strips 378 which are fixedly interconnected downstream from the end portions 376 in much the same manner as are the guide strips 268 of FIG. 14. An opening 384 is formed at each of the delivery stations to enable the guide pin 380 to engage a cam 386, in the same manner that the guide pin 56 engages the cam 60 in FIG I, to operate an associated control assembly and thereby drop or deposit the transported article at the delivery station.

The structure of the latch assembly 364 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 20 and 21. The latch assembly 364 includes a base section 390 having a hooked lower end portion 392 for engaging the lower edge of a partition 360 (see FIG. 19). The hooked end portion 392 is held in engagement with the partition 360 by a retaining ridge or section 396. A movable body section 400 is connected to the base section 390 by a spring 402. The movable body section 400 includes a bifurcated or forked upper or inner end portion having a latching wedge 404 for engaging an upper end portion of an associated partition 360 when the latch assembly is in the extended position (see FIG. 19). The inner end portion of the body section 400 includes a blocking section 408 which engages the end portion 376 (FIG. I9) of the resilient guide strips 378 when the latch assembly 364 is in the extended position to separate the guide strips. Thus, when the actuator pin 368 is moved from the retracted position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 21) to the ex tended position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 21 the retaining wedge 404 is moved upwardly against the action of the spring 402 to engage the upper end portion of the partition 360 to hold the latch assembly in the extended position. The section 408 then engages the guide strips 376 (FIG. 19) to separate the guide strips.

The latch assembly 364 is released for movement from the extended position to the retracted position by engagement of the follower pin 381} with the wedge 404 as the follower pin moves into a guide path. The follower pin 380 shoves the wedge 404 out of engagement with the partition 360 and the spring 402 forces the latch assembly downwardly to the retracted position. As the follower pin 330 engages the wedge 404, the follower pin 380 moves into the selected guide path, beneath the end portion 376 of the guide strip which was held upwardly by the section 408. Thus, the separated guide strips 378 are released for movement to the retracted position by moving the follower pin 380 into a selected guide path.

Two specific mechanisms have been described (FIG. 16 and FIGS. l9-2l) for separating the ends of the guide strips at the loading station to determine the channel or path into which a particular hanger is inserted. However other devices may also be employed for this purpose. Moreover, the operation of such devices will generally be coordinated with suitable hanger feed or injector devices located at the loading station, e.g. as shown in my copending applications Ser. No. 499,421, filed Oct. 21, I965 and Ser. No. 673, l 7 l filed Oct. 5, 1967.

In installations having a large number of delivery stations associated with a single loading station it may be necessary to provide two sets of guide strips for actuating two control assemblies associated with a single coupling assembly in order to provide the necessary capacity. A coupling assembly 420 for use in such an installation is illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23. The coupling assembly 420 includes a frame or fork 422 connected to a drive assembly, similar to the drive assembly 32 of FIG. I and indicated schematically by the arrow 424 which also indicates the direction of disengaging movement of the coupling assembly 426. A primary control assembly 426 is mounted on a first or left side, as viewed in FIG. 23, of the fork 422, and a secondary control assembly 430 is mounted on a second or right side, as viewed in FIG. 23, of the fork 422.

The primary control assembly 426 is associated with a primary group of flexible elongated guide members or strips 434 (see FIG. 23) mounted on a support frame 436 on one side of the coupling assembly 420. The primary group of guide strips 434 at least partially define control or guide paths or channels each of which is associated with a plurality of groups of delivery stations. The secondary control assembly 430 is associated with a secondary group of elongated guide members or strips 438 mounted in spaced relation on a support frame 446 at the opposite side of the coupling assembly 420. The secondary group of guide strips 438 at least partially define control or guide paths or channels each of which is associated with a particular delivery station in a group of delivery stations associated with the primary guide strips 434. When the primary control assembly 426 detects that the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station, the primary control assembly releases or activates the secondary control assembly 430. The secondary control assembly 430, under the influence of the secondary guide strips 438, then causes the transported article to be released when the coupling assembly 426 is adjacent to the selected delivery station.

A load-engaging carrier member or hook 442 is pivotally mounted between opposite legs of the fork 422 on a support shaft or axle 446 (see FIG. 23) and cooperates with a latch slide 448 in the secondary control assembly 430. An l-l-shaped actuator slide 450 in the secondary control assembly 43% is mounted adjacent to a latch slide 448 and has a follower pin 454 which is moved along a secondary guide path associated with a selected delivery station. The actuator slide 450 engages positioning pins or pegs 456 on the latch slide 448 to move the latch slide 448 from the latched or locked position shown in FIG. 23 to the release position (not shown). The construction of the secondary control assembly 430 and the cooperation between the secondary control assembly 430 and the carrier hook 442 is substantially the same as was previously described in connection with the control assembly 52 of FIGS. I through 9. Accordingly. when the coupling a assembly 420 is adjacent to the selected delivery station the follower pin 4S4 descends through an opening in the frame 440 to engage a cam 458 affixed to the frame 440 at an appropriate location to move the actuator slide 450 and the latch slide 448. This movement of the latch slide 448 releases the carrier hook 442 for movement to drop or release a hanger or carried article 460 at the selected delivery station. Once the hanger has been released it is supported on a support structure 462 which is similar to the support structure 174 of FIG. 1.

The primary control assembly 426 includes a single slide 466 (see FIG. 23) which is movably mounted in a housing 468 affixed to the fork 422. A follower pin 470 is connected to the slide 466 for movement along a guide path which is at least partially defined by the primary group of guide strips 434. The follower pin 470 moves downwardly into engagement with a cam 474 affixed to the frame 436 when the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station. It should be noted that the primary control assembly 426 does not, in the present instance, include a latch slide for holding the carrier hook 442 in the support position. This is because the primary control assembly 426 detects when the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations'including the selected delivery station. The releasing of the hanger 460 occurs when the secondary control assembly 430 detects that the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to the selected delivery station. Therefore, the carrier hook 442 is not pivoted to the release position until the follower pin 454 of the secondary control assembly 430 detects that the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to the selected delivery station of a group of delivery stations detected by the follower pin 470 of the primary control assembly 426.

To provide this cooperation between the primary and secondary control assemblies, the primary control assembly 426 is operatively connected to the secondary control assembly 430 by a generally U-shaped connector assembly 480. The connector assembly 480 includes a shaft 482 which is pivotally mounted on the fork 422. A tension spring 481 is connected to the fork 422 and the connector assembly 480 to urge the assembly 480 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 22, i.e. opposite to the direction of the arrow 492. An actuator or control member or arm 486 is mounted on one end of the shaft 482 and cooperates with the follower pin 470 of the primary control assembly 426. The actuator arm 486 includes a cam or operating surface 490 (FIG. 22) which is engaged by the follower pin 470 to pivot the actuator arm 486 and the connector assembly 480 in the direction of the arrow 492 when the follower pin 470 moves from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 22 to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 22 under the influence of the cam 474 (FIG. 23). Since the follower pin 470 engages the cam 474 only when the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station, the actuator lever 486 and connector assembly 480 is pivoted by the follower pin 470 only when the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station.

The connector assembly 48 0 further includes a latch or locking arm 498 which is connected to the opposite end of the shaft 482 and cooperates with the follower pin 454 of the secondary control assembly 430. The latch arm 498 includes a plurality of recesses or notches 500 which hold the follower pin 454 at a selected level of a plurality of levels (indicated by numerals or indicia 502 in FIG. 22) for movement along a selected guide path of a plurality of guide paths (indicated in FIG. 23 by numerals or indicia 504 which correspond to the numerals or indicia 502 of FIG. 22) associated with a selected delivery station. When the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station, pivoting movement of the actuator lever 486 pivots the latch arm 498 ti release or free the follower pin 454 to detect when the coupling assembly is adjacent to the selected delivery station in the group of delivery stations.

The numerals 502 and 504 are associated with particular delivery stations of each group of delivery stations. Each group of delivery stations is in turn associated with a particular guide path formed by the primary group of guide strips 434. Thus, if a delivery station corresponding to the numeral l is selected in a particular group of delivery stations, the follower pin 454 of the secondary control a assembly 430 will be held by the lowermost notch in the latch arm 498. This holding by the arm 498 positions the follower pin 454 for movement along a guide path between the support frame 440 and a guide strip 438 associated with the numeral 1 that is the lowermost guide path in FIG. 23. The follower pin 470 of the primary control assembly 426 will be positioned between the primary guide strips 434 to follow a guide path associated with the particular group of delivery stations which includes the selected delivery station. When the coupling assembly 420 is adjacent to the particular group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station, the follower pin 470 will engage the earn 474 and pivot the actuator arm 486 and latch arm 498 outwardly to disengage the follower pin 454 of the secondary control assembly from the first notch 500. The follower pin 454 will engage the cam 458 and release the carriage hook 442 and hanger 460 when the coupling assembly is adjacent to the selected delivery station of the group of delivery stations, e.g. the delivery station associated with the numeral 1. Similarly, if a higher numbered delivery station is selected, the follower pin 454 will be held by a notch 500 associated with the higher number delivery station for movement along a secondary guide path associated with the higher numbered delivery station.

In view of the foregoing remarks it can be seen that, the primary control assembly 426 enables the coupling assembly 420 to be moved to a location adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station. When the coupling assembly is adjacent to this group of delivery stations the follower pin 470 is moved downwardly to pivot the actuator arm 486 and the latch arm 498 to activate the secondary control assembly 430 by releasing the follower pin 454. This enables the follower pin 454 to move downwardly into engagement with the cam 458 adjacent to the selected guide path defined by the secondary guide strips 438. When the follower pin 454 engages the cam 458, as indicated in dashed lines in FIG 23, the carrier hook 442 is released for pivoting movement to drop the hanger 460 at the selected delivery station.

Since the secondary guide paths must terminate at particular delivery stations in each group of delivery stations to enable a selected delivery station to be detected, there is a separate group of secondary guide strips 438 associated with each group of delivery stations. This is shown schematically in FIG. 24 where a group of secondary guide strips 438 are shown associated with a particular group of delivery stations, indicated by numerals or indicia 506. The guide strips 438 terminate adjacent to the cams 458 to enable the follower pin 454 to engage a cam 458 associated with the selected delivery station. If the selected delivery station is not in the group of delivery stations indicated by the numerals 506, the follower pin 454 will be held up by a notch 500 in the latch arm 498 and the follower pin 454 will move on to succeeding or downstream groups of delivery stations, as indicated in dashed lines at the right of FIG. 24. By associating a plurality of delivery stations with each of the primary guide paths, a multiplication of the number of delivery stations which can be associated with a single loading station is obtained. Thus, if there are 20 primary guide paths, each of which is associated with five secondary guide paths, I delivery stations can be associated with the single loading station from which the primary guide paths extend. Of course, by increasing the number of primary guide paths or by increasing the number of secondary guide paths, the total number of delivery stations associated with a single loading station can bc correspondingly multiplied.

A modified coupling assembly 520 is shown in FIG. 25 having a primary control assembly 522 and a secondary control assembly 524 mounted on opposite sides of a frame or pusher fork 526. In this case the fork 526 is arranged to push a hanger 554 along a twin rail or track 556 having slidably mounted switches or rail sections 572 at discharge gaps 574 (FIG. 27) located adjacent the various delivery stations. The primary control assembly 522 includes a slide, similar to the slide 466 of FIG. 23, mounted in a housing 530 and having a follower pin 534 which is movable along control or guide paths or channels formed by primary guide strips or member 538. Similarly, the secondary control assembly 524 includes a slide mounted in a housing 540 and having' an outwardly projecting follower pin 542 which cooperates with secondary guide paths defined by a plurality of secondary guide strips or members 546. The follower pins 534 and 542 actuate a primary sensor assembly 550 and a secondary sensor assembly 552, respectively, to control the disposition of a hanger 554 supported on a rail assembly 556 for movement from a loading station to a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations.

The primary guide strips 538 are associated with a plurality or group of delivery stations, in much the same manner as the primary guide strips 434 of FIG. 23 are associated with a group of delivery stations. The secondary guide strips 546 are associated with individual stations within each of the groups of delivery stations. It should be noted that the secondary guide strips 546 are continuous rather than being divided into groups as are the secondary guide strips 438 of FIG. 23. Therefore, once the follower pin 542 of the secondary control assembly 524 is positioned for movement between adjacent secondary guide strips 546, the follower pin 542 stays between the same secondary guide strips even after the guide path to the selected delivery station has terminated and the hanger 554 released. The follower pin 542 is moved out from between the adjacent secondary guide strips after the coupling assembly 520 has moved past the furthest downstream delivery station.

The follower pin 534 of the primary control assembly 522 moves downwardly or outwardly, under the influence of gravity and the primary guide strips 538, into an actuator channel 560 when the coupling assembly 520 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station. A plurality of primary sensor assemblies 550 are mounted with switch or actuator arms 562 extending into the actuator channel 560. One primary sensor assembly 550 is provided for each delivery station associated with a loading station. The follower pin 534 is held out of the actuator channel 560 by the primary guide strips 538 until the coupling assembly 520 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station. When the coupling assembly 520 is adjacent to the group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station, the follower pin moves downwardly or outwardly into the actuator channel 560. Continued movement of the coupling assembly 520 results in normally open sensor switches 563 in the primary sensor assemblies 550 being sequentially closed by engagement of the follower pin 534 with the switch arms 562 as the follower pin is moved along the actuator channel 560.

The secondary sensor assemblies 552 are mounted with their actuator or switch arms 566 extending into the secondaryguide paths formed by the secondary guide strips 546. One sensor assembly 552 is mounted adjacent to each delivery station and has its switch or actuator arm 566 extending into a secondary guide path associated with that level (see FIGS. 25 and 26). Therefore, downstream movement of the coupling assembly 520 from the loading station moves the follower pin 542 into engagement with all switch arms 566 which are on .5. the same level, the various levels being indicated by numerals or indicia 568 in FIG. 26. Of course, the follower pin 542 is positioned on a level associated with the selected delivery station so that a normally open switch 569 in a sensor assembly 552 associated with the selected delivery station is closed by engagement of the follower pin 542 with the switch arm 566.

One primary sensor assembly switch 563 and one secondary sensor assembly switch 569 are associated with each delivery station. The primary and secondary sensor assembly switches 563 and 569 associated with each delivery station are connected in series, as shown in schematic form in FIG. 27. A solenoid 570 having a shiftable plunger 571 is connected in an electrical circuit with the sensor assembly switches 563 and 569 and operates a longitudinally slidable switch section 572 of the rail assembly 556. The switch section 572 has a mechanical connection (not shown) with the solenoid plunger 571, and the switch 572 is opened when the solenoid 570 is energized by closing or actuating both sensor assembly switches 563 and 569 to thereby provide an opening or gap 574 through which the hanger 554 descends to the delivery station associated with the actuated sensor assembly switches. The rail switch arrangement described in my copending application Ser. No. 626,85 I, filed Mar. 29, 1967, may be used advantageously in this case. Since the follower pin 534 of the primary control assembly does not move into the actuator channel 560 until the coupling assembly 520 is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including the selected delivery station, the switches of both the primary and secondary sensor assemblies are actuated only when the coupling assembly 520 is adjacent to the selected delivery station. After the coupling assembly 520 has moved past the group of primary sensor assemblies associated with the selected delivery station, the follower pin 534 moves out of the actuator channel 560, as indicated in dashed lines at the lower right of FIG. 26.

The coupling assembly 520 enables the number of primary guide paths to be multiplied by the number of secondary guide paths. Thus, if there are 50 primary guide paths defined by the primary guide strips 533 and secondary guide paths defined by the secondary guide strips 546, as indicated by the indicia 1 through 10 in FIGS. 25 and 26, 500 delivery stations can be associated with a single loading station. Assuming, for example, that the hanger 554 is to be dropped at the l45th delivery station from a loading station, the follower pin 534 of the primary control assembly will be positioned between primary guide strips 538 which partially define a primary guide path to the group of delivery stations including the l40th to l49th delivery stations. The follower pin 542 will be positioned to follow the fifth secondary guide path. When the coupling assembly 520 is adjacent to the group'of delivery stations which includes the selected i45th delivery station, the follower pin 534 will move outwardly or downwardly into the actuator channel 560, as shown at the left of FIG. 26. Continued forward movement of coupling assembly 520 will actuate sensor assemblies 550 associated with the l4lst through the l44th delivery stations. However, actuation of the sensor assemblies 550 for these four delivery stations will have no effect on the operation of the conveyor system since the associated secondary sensor assemblies 552 will not be actuated. When the coupling assembly is adjacent to the selected (l45) delivery station, the fifth primary sensor assembly 550 in the group of primary sensor assemblies is actuated by the primary follower pin 53%. Contemporaneously therewith, the secondary follower pin 542 will actuate the secondary sensor assembly 552. associated with the fifth delivery station in the group of delivery stations to complete the series circuit for energizing the associated solenoid 570. Energization of the solenoid 570 shifts the moveable section of track 572 longitudinally so that the hanger 554 is shoved into the opening 574 by the moving fork 422 and dropped at the selected delivery station, that is the I45 delivery station from the loading station.

Although FIGS. 22 to 24 illustrate a mechanical linkage or coaction (by the connector assembly 480) between the primary and secondary control assemblies, and although FIGS. 25 to 27 illustrate an electrical cooperation by means of suitable switches, it will be understood that features of both arrangements may be combined to provide the necessary interconnection between the control assemblies.

Also, in the embodiments of the invention heretofore described which utilize a plurality of guide strips, it will be recognized that the strips are disposed in parallel generally horizontal planes. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to mount the strips on edge in parallel generally vertical planes with appropriate modification of the control assemblies to permit coaetion of the follower pins with the vertically disposed strips.

In FIGS. 16 and 19, two different types of separator or selector mechanisms have been disclosed for separating the ends of flexible guide strips at a loading station so as to permit insertion or positioning of the follower pin of a control as sembly into a desired path between a pair of guide strips. In FIGS. 28 to 31, there is shown still another type of selector mechanism of simplified construction which includes a manually operated control means for the selector mechanism.

As seen in FIGS. 28 and 29, the selector mechanism, which is designated generally at 600, is disposed at a loading station adjacent the upstream ends of a plurality of deflectable guide strips 606. An elongated bar 601 provides the main structural support for the selector mechanism 600 and is suspended from the framework of the conveyor system, as by brackets or supports indicated at 602 in FIG. 29, in generally parallel relation to the strips 606. An elongated top plate 603 is rigidly secured to the bar 601, as by screws 604, and projects forwardly from the bar 601 toward the guide strips 606. For purposes of simplification, only three guide strips are illustrated in FIG. 28 and are designated specifically as 606a, 606b, and 6066.

As in the previously described embodiments of the invention, the guide strips 606 have terminal portions arranged in offset or staggered relationship at the loading station in order to facilitate insertion of a follower pin between adjacent strips. In this instance, however, the terminal portions of the strips 606 are inclined or bent downwardly at an angle, as shown at 607a, 6071), and 607C, for the purpose hereinafter described. The offset or staggered terminal portions of the guide strips 606 are individually supported by means of a plurality of support bars or straps 608a, 60812, and 6080 which are rigidly affixed, as by screws 609. to the plate 603 and project forwardly in underlying supporting relation beneath the respective guide strips 606a, 606b, and 606v.

A piano hinge comprising a fixed mounting plate portion 611, a pivot portion 612, and a swingable or pivotal plate portion 613 is disposed in spaced relation beneath the top plate 603. The fixed plate portion 611 and an underlying support plate 614 are rigidly affixed to the underside of the support bar 601, as by screws 616. The support plate 614 extends for wardly from the bar 601 parallel to the top plate 603 and normally holds the pivotal plate 613 in horizontally disposed rela tion, as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 28 and 29. The outermost edge of the top plate 603 terminates in a depending flange portion 617 disposed adjacent to and rearwardly of the guide strips 606. The pivotal plate portion 613 of the piano hinge projects forwardly beyond the strips 606 and is provided at its outermost edge with an upturned flange portion 618. The underlying support plate 614 has an outer downtumed flange portion 619 which is generally in alignment with the downturned flange 617 of the top plate 603 and is disposed rearwardly of the strips 606v At the rear of the support bar 601 an array or console of deprcssible control buttons 621 is provided, each control but ton comprising an electrical switch mounted in a support 622 having a forwardly extending mounting portion 623 removably affixed to the .top plate 603 and the bar 601 by means of a screw 624. Each button support 622 also mounts a limit switch 626 having a forwardly projecting pivotally movable actuating arm 627. An extension rod 628 is rigidly affixed to the actuating arm 627 and projects through a slot 629 in the depending flange 619 of the support plate 614. It will be understood that the number of pairs of control buttons 621 and limit switches 626 corresponds to the number of guide strips 606 so as to permit selective insertion of a follower pin between any adjacent pair of guide strips. Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 28 and 30, a plurality of actuating rods 628 project beyond the flange 619 into the path of movement of the control units, as hereinafter described.

The pivotally movable plate 613 is arranged to be pivoted upwardly by means of a pair of solenoids, one of which is shown schematically in FIG. 29 at 631. The solenoid 631 has a plunger 632 which has a suitable mechanical connection with an upstanding ear or flange 633 at the edge of the pivotal plate 613. The other solenoid (not shown) is similarly connected to the opposite edge of the plate 613. As shown in FIG. 29, the solenoid 631 is connected in a separate series circuit with each pair of control buttons 621 and limit switches 626 so that both the switch actuated by a button 621 and the corresponding limit switch 626 must be closed to complete a circuit for ener gizing the solenoid 631. A reset solenoid 634 is also shown schematically in FIG. 29 and is arranged to actuate a linkage 636 and a pivotal plate 640 for returning the control buttons 621 to their initial positions, Although not illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood that the circuitry for the reset solenoid 634 may include a suitable switch mechanism responsive to any desired operating portion of the selector or control mechanism, eg after a limit switch 626 has been actu ated or after a follower pin of a control unit has been inserted between a pair of guide strips.

FIG. 29 illustrates a fork 637 with a control unit 638 on one leg thereof, the fork being in position at the loading station to permit insertion of a projecting follower pin 639 between a selected pair of guide strips 606. As previously described, the follower pin 639 comprises part of a slide mechanism and is vertically movable to occupy a plurality of positions. In FIGS. 28 and 29, the normal position of the follower pin 639 as it enters the selector mechanism is shown in solid lines, and various other possible positions of the pin 639 are shown in broken lines.

As the fork 637 moves into loading position at the loading station, the pin 639 will normally engage and slide along the upper elongated edge of the flange 618 on the pivotal plate 613. As the fork 637 passes through the loading station and selector mechanism, a wedge-shaped cam member 641 affixed to the lower end of the control unit 638 makes successive contact with the forwardly projecting ends of the limit switch actuating rods 628, and each of these rods is cammed upwardly in succession, as permitted by the vertically elongated slots 629, thereby successively actuating each of the limit switches 626. Assuming that the operator has depressed one of the control buttons 621, it will be understood that when the cam member 641 causes actuation of the corresponding limit switch 626, the electrical circuit to the solenoid 631 will be completed thereby causing the plate 613 to be pivoted upwardly and causing the follower pin 639 to be lifted or inserted between the downturned terminal portions 607 of a selected pair of guide strips 606. This movement is illustrated in FIG. 29 by the broken line upper position of the plate 613 and the corresponding broken line representation of the upwardly lifted follower pin 639. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that the operator has depressed the control button 621 corresponding to insertion of the follower pin 639 between the strips 606a and 6116b. Upward the movement of the pivotal plate 613 is limited by engagement with the downturned flange 617 of the top plate 603.

The overall operation as above described is also illustrated schematically in FIG. 30 in which the follower pin 639 is shown in two positions. In the left-hand position the pin 639 is shown moving to the right in engagement with the edge of the upturned flange 6121 prior to upward pivotal movement of the plate 613. However, upon upward pivotal movement of the plate 613, as heretofore described the pin 639 is projected upwardly into the space between the downturned inclined ends 607a and 607b of the strips 606a and 6116b. Inasmuch as the fork 637 continues to travel toward the right during the pivotal movement of the plate 613, it will be noted that the pin 639 has moved both horizontally and vertically (as indicated by the arrow 630) to arrive at the uppermost position shown in FIG. 30. Continued horizontal movement of the fork 637 (as indicated by the arrow 635) causes the elevated follower pin 639 to engage the downturned inclined end 6117!; of the strip 606!) and to be cammcd into guided position between the strips 606a and 606b, as illustrated in the uppermost broken line position of the pin 639 in FIG. 29. Of course, as movement of the fork 637 effects insertion of the pin 639 in the mannerjust described, it will be understood that the cam 641 is also disengaged from the actuating rod 628 so that the limit switch 626 returns to its normally open position thereby deenergizing the solenoid 631 andpermitting the plate 613 to return to its normal horizontal position in readiness for the next successive fork and control unitv As heretofore mentioned, the circuitry for the reset solenoid 634 is thereafter completed by automatic closing of a suitable switch mechanism (not shown) to return the corresponding control button 621 to its initial position.

In the event that it is desired to bypass the selector mechanism 600, the follower pin 639 may be depressed by,

suitable cam mechanism (not shown) to a lowermost position so as to move beneath the pivotal plate 613 as indicated by the lowermost broken line position of the pin 639 in FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 illustrates a modification of the control circuitry and switch arrangements for energizing the solenoid 631. In this modification, the limit switches 626 are omitted, and instead an elongated insulated mounting bar 642 is suspended beneath the support plate 614. The mounting bar 642 is provided with a plurality of pairs of electrical contacts 643 and 644 which project forwardly from the bar 642 into the path of movement of the forks 637 and the control unit 638. Instead of the actuating cam wedge 641, the lower portion of each control unit 638 is provided with a projecting metal plate 646 which is separated from the control unit 638 by electrical insulation 647. The electrical contacts 643 and 644 are connected to the control buttons 621 and to the solenoid 631 by conductors 645 in the same manner as the limit switches 626 are connected in circuit in the previous embodiment. The projecting electrical contacts 643 and 644 are flexible so that the metal contact plate 646 may engage and deflect the respective pairs of contacts as the fork 637 moves along the selector mechanism thereby sequentially closing the circuits between the successive pairs of contacts 643 and 644. When a control button 621 has been depressed and when the plate 646 completes the circuit between a pair of contacts 643 and 644 in the same electrical circuit, the solenoid 631 will then be energized in the manner heretofore described.

In view of the foregoing remarks, it will be apparent that my invention relates to a conveyor system having a main drive as sembly 32 to which coupling assemblies, such as the coupling assemblies 34, 200, 420, and 520, are connected to transport articles, such as hangers, to a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations. The coupling assemblies each include at least one control assembly having an outwardly extending follower pin, such as the follower pins 56, 219, 470, 454, 534, and 542. These follower pins are moved along predetermined paths by the drive assembly to detect when the coupling assembly is adjacent to the selected delivery station at which time the follower pins operate control means to deposit or drop the hanger at the selected delivery station.

The paths may be defined by elongated guide strips which extend generally parallel to the path of movement of a coupling assembly. The guide strips can take different forms including the flexible relatively movable strips 66 of FIG. 1, or the fixedly mounted relatively inflexible strips 268 of FIG. 14, 438 of FIG. 23, and 546 of FIG. 25, or a combination of the flexible relatively movable guide strips and the fixedly mounted guide strips as shown in FIGS. 14 and 19. Of course, the guide paths can be defined in many other ways, e.g. as in FIGS. 10 to 13 which do not require the use of guide strips. In

the case where guide strips are used to provide the guide paths, several different mechanisms (FIGS. l6, l9, and 28- 3l) have been disclosed for inserting or positioning a follower pin of a control unit for movement along a guide path associated with a selected delivery station.

The capacity of a conveyor system utilizing any of the disclosed embodiments of the coupling assembly can be varied by varying the number of guide paths and the amount of travel of the follower pins associated with the guide paths. Since the weight of the transported article is borne by either a support rail assembly or carrier hook, the guide strips are subjected to only the weight of the follower pins and will provide a long service life with a minimum of maintenance.

While several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments since many other modifications can be made within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A conveying system comprising drive means for moving articles to a plurality of delivery stations, coupling means connected to said drive means for engaging the articles, a plurality of elongated guides extending toward said delivery stations and defining a plurality of longitudinally extending control paths, each control path of said plurality of control paths terminating adjacent one of said delivery stations, control means connected to said coupling means and including a follower positionable to extend into a selected control path terminating adjacent a selected delivery station, said follower being movable along said selected control path upon movement of said coupling means by said drive means to detect when an article is adjacent to said selected delivery station, and means for disengaging an article from said coupling means and releasing the same at said selected delivery station.

2. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated guides have end portions which are movable rela' tive to each other to position said follower for movement along a selected control path.

3. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated guides comprise flexible strips having longitudinally extending surfaces which define said control paths, and said follower is moved between said surfaces of said strips by said drive means.

4. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a pivotally mounted hook for engaging an article, and said follower is movable relative to said hook for effecting pivoting movement of said hook to disengage the article from said hook when the article is adjacent to the selected delivery station.

5. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a plurality of coupling units, each of said coupling units having a pivotally mounted hook and a coacting slide to which a follower is connected for movement relative to said hook, the slides and followers being movable to effect release of associated hooks for pivoting movement to disengage articles from the hooks when the articles are adjacent to selected delivery stations.

6. A conveying system as set forth in claim il, wherein said coupling means is adjustable to position and hold said follower for coaction with a selected one of said plurality of control paths.

7. A conveying system as set forth in claim i, further including support means mounted at said delivery stations for receiving articles released from said coupling means, said coupling means being moved by said drive means to engage and slide the articles on said support means.

8. A conveying system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said support means extends into at least partial alignment with said coupling means when said coupling means is adjacent to a selected delivery station to support the articles before they are disengaged from said coupling means.

9, A conveyor system as set forth in claim 5. further including cam means mounted at each of said delivery stations adjacent to end portions of said guides for engaging and moving said follower relative to said coupling means to effect release ofan article at a selected delivery station.

10. A conveying system as set forth in claim I. further including a pickup frame mounted adjacent to said drive means for supporting the articles before they are engaged by said coupling means, said coupling means being moved into align ment with said pickup frame by said drive means to engage an article supported by said pickup frame.

11. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a plurality of coupling units, each of said coupling units being associated with a plurality of followers, and wherein said elongated guides are divided into a plurality of groups, each of said followers being associated with a particular group of guides of said plurality of groups of guides.

22. A conveying system as set forth in claim 11, wherein one group of guides is located on a first side of said coupling means and a second group of guides is located on a second side of said coupling means.

13. A conveying system as set forth in claim ll, further including a rail means extending substantially parallel to the control paths for supporting said articles, said coupling means being driven by said drive means to push said articles along said rail means to delivery stations.

14. A conveying system as set forth in claim I, further including sensor assemblies having actuators extending between said elongated guides and into said control paths, said sensor assemblies being actuated by said follower at said selected delivery stations to effect release of said articles.

15. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, further including separator means mounted adjacent to end portions of said elongated guides for separating the end portions of guides defining a selected control path thereby to facilitate position ing said follower for movement along the selected control path.

16. Apparatus for use in a conveyor assembly, said ap paratus comprising a carrier adapted to be connected to a drive assembly to transport an article to a delivery station, said carrier being movable between a first position for supporting said article and a second position for disengaging said article, a latch slide mounted adjacent to said carrier and slidable between a locking position and a release position, means coacting between said latch slide and said carrier for holding said carrier against movement from said first position to said second position when said latch slide is in said locking position, said latch slide in said release position being located relative to said carrier to enable said carrier to move to said second position to release said article, and an actuator slide mounted for sliding movement parallel to said latch slide, said actuator slide having an outwardly projecting arm engagcable with cam means at the delivery station for moving said arm and said actuator slide, said actuator slide being mounted adjacent to and having an operating connection with said latch slide for moving said latch slide between said locking and release positions, whereby when said outwardly projecting arm on said actuator slide is moved at said delivery station, said latch slide is thereby moved from said locking position to said release position to disengage said article from said carrier when said article is adjacent to said delivery station.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, further including detent means cooperable with said actuator slide for releasably holding said actuator slide in a selected one of a plurality of positions to locate said outwardly projecting arm in a predetermined position for engagement by said cam means at said delivery station.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim to, wherein said latch slide includes a cam slot, and said carrier includes a follower section, said follower section being releasably engaged by said cam slot to hold said carrier against movement from said first position to said second position, said latch slide being adapted to be moved by said actuator slide when said carrier is ad jacent to said delivery station to free said carrier for movement from said first position to said second position.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said carrier is a hook which is mounted for pivoting movement between said first position and said second position, and a spring is connected to said hook to resiliently bias said hook toward said second position.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in combination with a plurality of elongated guide members defining a plurality of longitudinally extending control paths terminating at a plurality of delivery stations, each control path of the plurality of control paths being associated with a different delivery station, said actuator slide being adjustable relative to said latch slide for positioning said outwardly projecting arm of said actuator slide so as to extend into and move along a control path associated with a selected delivery station.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said elongated guide members comprise flexible strips having longitudinally extending surfaces which define said control paths, and said outwardly projecting arm of said actuator slide is movable between said surfaces of the said strips.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, further including separator means mounted adjacent to end portions of said flexible strips for moving said surfaces into a spaced apart relationship to facilitate positioning said outwardly projecting arm between said surfaces.

23. A conveying system comprising a drive means for moving articles from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of flexible strips located adjacent to said drive means and associated with said plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of couplings connected to said drive means for engaging said articles, said couplings having outwardly projecting followers each extending between an adjacent pair of strips and slidable therebetween, and separator means at said loading station for selectively moving apart end portions of said strips to enablesaid followers to be positioned between said strips for movement to selected delivery stations.

24. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said separator means includes a strip-engaging means for moving certain of said end portions of said strips, which are associated with delivery stations located further from the loading station than a selected delivery station, apart from others of said end portions of said strips, which are associated with delivery stations located closer to the loading station than said selected delivery station.

25. A conveying system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said separator means includes a plurality of interlocked elements, each element of said plurality of elements coacting with a single strip of said plurality of strips, and said elements being interlocked in such a manner that movement of an element and strip associated with a selected delivery station also effects movement of elements and strips associated with other delivery stations.

26. A conveying system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said separator means includes a plurality of latch assemblies mounted adjacent to support sections, each of said latch assemblies including a wedge section and being movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which said wedge section engages said support section to hold apart said end portions of at least two of said strips to facilitate inserting at least one of said followers between the held-apart strips.

27. A conveying system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said latch assemblies are released for movement from said extended position to said retracted position by engagement of a follower with said wedge section as the follower is positioned between the held-apart strips.

28. A conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of elongated guides grouped together in generally parallel relationship and extending between a common loading station at one end and a plurality of individual delivery stations at opposite ends of the respective guides, a carrier means for engaging an article at the loading station and moving the article to a selected delivery station, and a follower connected to said carrier means and selectively positionable between a pair of adjacent guides for sliding movement 'therealong to a selected delivery station, said follower being movable relative to said carrier means at the selected delivery station to effect release of the transported articles from said carrier means.

29. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said follower is moved into spaced-apart relationship from said guides at the selected delivery station for return movement with said carrier means to the loading station.

30. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said guides are selectively movable into a spaced-apart relationship at the loading station to facilitate positioning said follower between adjacent guides.

31. A conveying apparatus for transporting an article from a loading station to a selected delivery station of a plurality of delivery stations, said conveying apparatus comprising a drive assembly for moving said article to said selected delivery station, a plurality of elongated guides defining a plurality of guide paths between adjacent pairs of guides and extending from said loading station to said delivery stations, and a control assembly connected to said drive assembly and having a follower extending between an adjacent pair of said guides and movable along one of said guide paths to said selected delivery station to thereby detect when said article is at said selected delivery station.

32. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 3l, wherein said drive assembly includes a carrier means movable from a support position for engaging said article to a release position for releasing said article, said follower being positioned to hold said carrier means in the support position by a guide which at least partially defines the guide path extending to said selected delivery station, said follower being moved out of the guide path at said selected delivery station to enable said carrier means to move from said support position to said release position to release said article at said selected delivery station.

33. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further including a rail mounted adjacent to said drive assembly for supporting said article as said article is moved along said rail from said loading station to said selected delivery station.

34. A conveying apparatus for transporting an article from a loading station to a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations, said apparatus comprising a support means for supporting said article while it is being transported by said apparatus, a drive means associated with said support means for moving said article to said selected delivery station, a first group of elongated guides defining a first group of guide paths extending from said loading station to groups of said delivery stations, a second group of elongated guides defining a second group of guide paths extending to said delivery stations and generally parallel to said first group of guide paths, a first control assembly connected to said drive means and having a first follower movable along a guide path of said first group of guide paths to detect when said article is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including said selected delivery station, a second control assembly connected to said drive means and having a second follower movable along a guide path of said second group of guide paths to detect when said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station, said second control assembly being connected to said first control assembly to release said article when said first control assembly detects that said article is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including said selected delivery station and said second control assembly detects that said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station. I

35. A conveying apparatus as set froth in claim 34, wherein said support means includes a rail assembly having a selective ly movable section at each of said delivery stations and an operator connected to said sections for moving said sections to release articles at said delivery stations, said first control assembly includes a first series of switches located adjacent to said first group of guide paths and actuatable by said first follower, and said second control assembly includes a second series of switches located adjacent to said second group of guide paths and actuated by said second follower, said first and second series of switches being actuated by said first and second followers respectively when said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station to energize the operator associated with said selected delivery station to release said article at said selected delivery station 36. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said second control assembly includes a latch means for releasably holding said second follower in a predetermined relationship with said second group of guide paths, and said first control assembly includes a control member connected to said latch means and actuated by said first follower when said first follower detects that said article is adjacent to the group of delivery stations including said selected delivery station, said latch means being operated by the actuation of said control member by said first follower to release said second follower for movement relative to said second group of guide paths to thereby detect when said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station.

37. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said support means is movable from a first position for supporting said article to a second position for releasing said article at said selected delivery station, said support means being held in said first position by said second control assembly until said second follower detects that said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station, said support means being released by said second control assembly for movement from said first position to said second position when said follower detects that said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station.

38. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said first group of guides and said first control assembly are mounted on one side of said support means, and said second group of guides and second control assembly are mounted on a second side of said support means.

39. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said first group of guides is formed bya plurality of flexible strips which are movable relative to each other and said first follower is received between said flexible strips for movement along a guide path of said first group of guide paths.

40. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 39, wherein said second group of guides is formed by a plurality of strips which are mounted in a spaced-apart relationship relative to each other and said second follower is received between said strips for movement along a guide path of said second group of guide paths.

41. A conveying system comprising a drive means for moving articles from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of strips located adjacent to said drive means and extending from said loading station to said plurality of delivery stations. a plurality of couplings connected to said drive means for engaging said articles. said couplings having outwardly projecting followers adapted to extend between said strips. and selector means at said loading station for inserting said followers between selected pairs of adjacent strips for movement to selected delivery stations.

42. The system of claim 4!. further characterized in that said selector means comprises a movable actuating member disposed adjacent terminal portions of said strips, said followers being movable along said actuating member, and control means for effecting movement of said actuating member toward said strips at predetermined times whereby to cause said followers to be projected between selected strips.

43. The system of claim 42, further characterized in that said strips have downtumed terminal portions arranged in longitudinally spaced relation and said actuating member comprises a pivotal member adapted to be pivoted upwardly for inserting a follower between adjacent downtumed terminal portions of said strips.

44. The system of claim 42, further characterized in that said control means comprises a plurality of first switch elements adapted to be manually operated, a plurality of second switch elements operable by engagement with the moving couplings, and means connected in circuit with said switch elements for moving said actuating member whenever a predetermined pair of said first and second switch elements are closed. 1 

1. A conveying system comprising drive means for moving articles to a plurality of delivery stations, coupling means connected to said drive means for engaging the articles, a plurality of elongated guides extending toward said delivery stations and defining a plurality of longitudinally extending control paths, each control path of said plurality of control paths terminating adjacent one of said delivery stations, control means connected to said coupling means and including a follower positionable to extend into a selected control path terminating adjacent a selected delivery station, said follower being movable along said selected control path upon movement of said coupling means by said drive means to detect when an article is adjacent to said selected delivery station, and means for disengaging an article from said coupling means and releasing the same at said selected delivery station.
 2. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated guides have end portions which are movable relative to each other to position said follower for movement along a selected control path.
 3. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated guides comprise flexible strips having longitudinally extending surfaces which define said control paths, and said follower is moved between said surfaces of said strips by said drive means.
 4. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a pivotally mounted hook for engaging an article, and said follower is movable relative to said hook for effecting pivoting movement of said hook to disengage the article from said hook when the article is adjacent to the selected delivery station.
 5. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a plurality of coupling units, each of said coupling units having a pivotally mounted hook and a coacting slide to which a follower is connected for movement relative to said hook, the slides and followers being movable to effect release of associated hooks for pivoting movement to disengage articles from the hooks when the articles are adjacent to selected delivery stations.
 6. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means is adjustable to position and hold said follower for coaction with a selected one of said plurality of control paths.
 7. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, further including support means mounted at said delivery stations for receiving articles released from said coupling means, said coupling means being moved by said drive means to engage and slide the articles on said support means.
 8. A conveying system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said support means extends into at least partial alignment with said coupling means when said coupling means is adjacent to a selected delivery station to support the articles before they are disengaged from said coupling means.
 9. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1, further including cam means mounted at each of said delivery stations adjacent to end portions of said guides for engaging and moving said follower relative to said coupling means to effect release of an article at a selected delivery station.
 10. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, further including a pickup frame mounted adjacent to said drive means for supporting the articles before they are engaged by said coupling means, said coupling means being moved into alignment with said pickup frame by said drive means to engage an article supported by said pickup frame.
 11. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a plurality of coupling units, each of said coupling units being associated with a plurality of followers, and wherein said elongated guides arE divided into a plurality of groups, each of said followers being associated with a particular group of guides of said plurality of groups of guides.
 12. A conveying system as set forth in claim 11, wherein one group of guides is located on a first side of said coupling means and a second group of guides is located on a second side of said coupling means.
 13. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, further including a rail means extending substantially parallel to the control paths for supporting said articles, said coupling means being driven by said drive means to push said articles along said rail means to delivery stations.
 14. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, further including sensor assemblies having actuators extending between said elongated guides and into said control paths, said sensor assemblies being actuated by said follower at said selected delivery stations to effect release of said articles.
 15. A conveying system as set forth in claim 1, further including separator means mounted adjacent to end portions of said elongated guides for separating the end portions of guides defining a selected control path thereby to facilitate positioning said follower for movement along the selected control path.
 16. Apparatus for use in a conveyor assembly, said apparatus comprising a carrier adapted to be connected to a drive assembly to transport an article to a delivery station, said carrier being movable between a first position for supporting said article and a second position for disengaging said article, a latch slide mounted adjacent to said carrier and slidable between a locking position and a release position, means coacting between said latch slide and said carrier for holding said carrier against movement from said first position to said second position when said latch slide is in said locking position, said latch slide in said release position being located relative to said carrier to enable said carrier to move to said second position to release said article, and an actuator slide mounted for sliding movement parallel to said latch slide, said actuator slide having an outwardly projecting arm engageable with cam means at the delivery station for moving said arm and said actuator slide, said actuator slide being mounted adjacent to and having an operating connection with said latch slide for moving said latch slide between said locking and release positions, whereby when said outwardly projecting arm on said actuator slide is moved at said delivery station, said latch slide is thereby moved from said locking position to said release position to disengage said article from said carrier when said article is adjacent to said delivery station.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, further including detent means cooperable with said actuator slide for releasably holding said actuator slide in a selected one of a plurality of positions to locate said outwardly projecting arm in a predetermined position for engagement by said cam means at said delivery station.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said latch slide includes a cam slot, and said carrier includes a follower section, said follower section being releasably engaged by said cam slot to hold said carrier against movement from said first position to said second position, said latch slide being adapted to be moved by said actuator slide when said carrier is adjacent to said delivery station to free said carrier for movement from said first position to said second position.
 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said carrier is a hook which is mounted for pivoting movement between said first position and said second position, and a spring is connected to said hook to resiliently bias said hook toward said second position.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in combination with a plurality of elongated guide members defining a plurality of longitudinally extending control paths terminating at a plurality of delivery stations, each control path of tHe plurality of control paths being associated with a different delivery station, said actuator slide being adjustable relative to said latch slide for positioning said outwardly projecting arm of said actuator slide so as to extend into and move along a control path associated with a selected delivery station.
 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said elongated guide members comprise flexible strips having longitudinally extending surfaces which define said control paths, and said outwardly projecting arm of said actuator slide is movable between said surfaces of the said strips.
 22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, further including separator means mounted adjacent to end portions of said flexible strips for moving said surfaces into a spaced apart relationship to facilitate positioning said outwardly projecting arm between said surfaces.
 23. A conveying system comprising a drive means for moving articles from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of flexible strips located adjacent to said drive means and associated with said plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of couplings connected to said drive means for engaging said articles, said couplings having outwardly projecting followers each extending between an adjacent pair of strips and slidable therebetween, and separator means at said loading station for selectively moving apart end portions of said strips to enable said followers to be positioned between said strips for movement to selected delivery stations.
 24. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said separator means includes a strip-engaging means for moving certain of said end portions of said strips, which are associated with delivery stations located further from the loading station than a selected delivery station, apart from others of said end portions of said strips, which are associated with delivery stations located closer to the loading station than said selected delivery station.
 25. A conveying system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said separator means includes a plurality of interlocked elements, each element of said plurality of elements coacting with a single strip of said plurality of strips, and said elements being interlocked in such a manner that movement of an element and strip associated with a selected delivery station also effects movement of elements and strips associated with other delivery stations.
 26. A conveying system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said separator means includes a plurality of latch assemblies mounted adjacent to support sections, each of said latch assemblies including a wedge section and being movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which said wedge section engages said support section to hold apart said end portions of at least two of said strips to facilitate inserting at least one of said followers between the held-apart strips.
 27. A conveying system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said latch assemblies are released for movement from said extended position to said retracted position by engagement of a follower with said wedge section as the follower is positioned between the held-apart strips.
 28. A conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of elongated guides grouped together in generally parallel relationship and extending between a common loading station at one end and a plurality of individual delivery stations at opposite ends of the respective guides, a carrier means for engaging an article at the loading station and moving the article to a selected delivery station, and a follower connected to said carrier means and selectively positionable between a pair of adjacent guides for sliding movement therealong to a selected delivery station, said follower being movable relative to said carrier means at the selected delivery station to effect release of the transported articles from said carrier means.
 29. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said follower is moved into spaceD-apart relationship from said guides at the selected delivery station for return movement with said carrier means to the loading station.
 30. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said guides are selectively movable into a spaced-apart relationship at the loading station to facilitate positioning said follower between adjacent guides.
 31. A conveying apparatus for transporting an article from a loading station to a selected delivery station of a plurality of delivery stations, said conveying apparatus comprising a drive assembly for moving said article to said selected delivery station, a plurality of elongated guides defining a plurality of guide paths between adjacent pairs of guides and extending from said loading station to said delivery stations, and a control assembly connected to said drive assembly and having a follower extending between an adjacent pair of said guides and movable along one of said guide paths to said selected delivery station to thereby detect when said article is at said selected delivery station.
 32. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said drive assembly includes a carrier means movable from a support position for engaging said article to a release position for releasing said article, said follower being positioned to hold said carrier means in the support position by a guide which at least partially defines the guide path extending to said selected delivery station, said follower being moved out of the guide path at said selected delivery station to enable said carrier means to move from said support position to said release position to release said article at said selected delivery station.
 33. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further including a rail mounted adjacent to said drive assembly for supporting said article as said article is moved along said rail from said loading station to said selected delivery station.
 34. A conveying apparatus for transporting an article from a loading station to a selected one of a plurality of delivery stations, said apparatus comprising a support means for supporting said article while it is being transported by said apparatus, a drive means associated with said support means for moving said article to said selected delivery station, a first group of elongated guides defining a first group of guide paths extending from said loading station to groups of said delivery stations, a second group of elongated guides defining a second group of guide paths extending to said delivery stations and generally parallel to said first group of guide paths, a first control assembly connected to said drive means and having a first follower movable along a guide path of said first group of guide paths to detect when said article is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including said selected delivery station, a second control assembly connected to said drive means and having a second follower movable along a guide path of said second group of guide paths to detect when said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station, said second control assembly being connected to said first control assembly to release said article when said first control assembly detects that said article is adjacent to a group of delivery stations including said selected delivery station and said second control assembly detects that said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station.
 35. A conveying apparatus as set froth in claim 34, wherein said support means includes a rail assembly having a selectively movable section at each of said delivery stations and an operator connected to said sections for moving said sections to release articles at said delivery stations, said first control assembly includes a first series of switches located adjacent to said first group of guide paths and actuatable by said first follower, and said second control assembly includes a second series of switches located adjacent to said second group of guide paths and actuated by said seCond follower, said first and second series of switches being actuated by said first and second followers respectively when said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station to energize the operator associated with said selected delivery station to release said article at said selected delivery station.
 36. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said second control assembly includes a latch means for releasably holding said second follower in a predetermined relationship with said second group of guide paths, and said first control assembly includes a control member connected to said latch means and actuated by said first follower when said first follower detects that said article is adjacent to the group of delivery stations including said selected delivery station, said latch means being operated by the actuation of said control member by said first follower to release said second follower for movement relative to said second group of guide paths to thereby detect when said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station.
 37. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said support means is movable from a first position for supporting said article to a second position for releasing said article at said selected delivery station, said support means being held in said first position by said second control assembly until said second follower detects that said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station, said support means being released by said second control assembly for movement from said first position to said second position when said follower detects that said article is adjacent to said selected delivery station.
 38. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said first group of guides and said first control assembly are mounted on one side of said support means, and said second group of guides and second control assembly are mounted on a second side of said support means.
 39. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said first group of guides is formed by a plurality of flexible strips which are movable relative to each other and said first follower is received between said flexible strips for movement along a guide path of said first group of guide paths.
 40. A conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 39, wherein said second group of guides is formed by a plurality of strips which are mounted in a spaced-apart relationship relative to each other and said second follower is received between said strips for movement along a guide path of said second group of guide paths.
 41. A conveying system comprising a drive means for moving articles from a loading station to a plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of strips located adjacent to said drive means and extending from said loading station to said plurality of delivery stations, a plurality of couplings connected to said drive means for engaging said articles, said couplings having outwardly projecting followers adapted to extend between said strips, and selector means at said loading station for inserting said followers between selected pairs of adjacent strips for movement to selected delivery stations.
 42. The system of claim 41, further characterized in that said selector means comprises a movable actuating member disposed adjacent terminal portions of said strips, said followers being movable along said actuating member, and control means for effecting movement of said actuating member toward said strips at predetermined times whereby to cause said followers to be projected between selected strips.
 43. The system of claim 42, further characterized in that said strips have downturned terminal portions arranged in longitudinally spaced relation and said actuating member comprises a pivotal member adapted to be pivoted upwardly for inserting a follower between adjacent downturned terminal portions of said strips.
 44. The system of claim 42, further characterized in that said control means comprises A plurality of first switch elements adapted to be manually operated, a plurality of second switch elements operable by engagement with the moving couplings, and means connected in circuit with said switch elements for moving said actuating member whenever a predetermined pair of said first and second switch elements are closed. 